The first and last beatitude spoken by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount do not speak of future blessings, they are instantaneous.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
They explain how we receive our citizenship in the kingdom of heaven. Peter echos this in our passage today.
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
He calls this persecution "judgment".
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God;
Not that we are to be found wanting and punished through suffering. Rather, we are in this way judged by suffering and declared (krima) part of the Kingdom of God.
Recall please, that Peter is speaking from experience. Not willing to confess Christ before the servant girl, he denied Christ (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-27). Read please the account in Luke, and weep with Peter.
Later Christ, unwilling to lose any who are His (John 6:37-40; John 10:27-29) restored him (John 21:15-19).
May we have the opportunity to not only identify ourselves as a Christian, but in some way share in the sufferings of Christ, and respond in a way that brings glory to God.
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